Method of and an apparatus for prefolding or pre-creasing the closure forming components of a container of paper, cardboard and similar materials



Jan. 3961 a. MEYER-JAGENBERG 2,969,002

METHOD OF AND AN APPARATUS FOR PRE-FOLDING OR FREE-CREASING THE CLOSURE FORMING COMPONENTS OF A CONTAINER OF PAPER, CARDEQAkD AND SIMILAR MATERIALS Filed Sept. 28, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1'12 1) 6121701 6 .Meyer wigmb any Jan, 24, 1961 G. MEYER-JAGENBERG 9 3 2 METHOD AND AN A RATUS FOR PRE-FQLDING OR PRE- CREASING TH LOSURE. F ING COMPON S OF A CONTAINER OF PAPER, CARDBOARD AND ILAR MATERIALS Filed Sept. 28, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheec 2 La 0 enter G. Me enJz yenb ery K;

United States Patent OfiFice 2,969,002 Patented Jan. 24, 1.961

lVIETHOD OF AND AN APPARATUS FOR PRE- FOLDING OR PRE-CREASING THE CLOSURE FORMING COMPONENTS OF A CONTAINER OF 13581 CARDBOARD AND SIMILAR MATE- Giinther Meyer-Jagenberg, Dusseldorf-Grafenberg, Germany, assignor to Jagenberg-Werke Akt-Ges.

Filed Sept. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 842,976 Claims priority, application Germany Oct. 11, 1958 3 Claims. (Cl. 93-49) The invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for prefolding or pre-creasing the closure forming components of a container of paper, cardboard and similar materials, and more particularly a container of the type having a gable or roof-like closure.

It is known, in containers having such closure defining components to pre-fold the zone of the closure which has been provided with score or fold lines, prior to the folding of the closure defining components so that in the further processing of the container, such as in a filling and closing machine, a satisfactory folded closure means is assured. Heretofore, the prefolding operation has been accomplished by means of tools used for the closing of the container after its filling, which means that the closure components following the pre-folding occupy the same positions as is the case following the final closing. Hence, it has not been possible to pre-fold such closures beyond the position above-mentioned, since the opposed edges of the inward folded gable defining means made contact after a limited pro-folding with the tools available.

It has now been established that the known prefolding tools no longer satisfy the requirements relating to better performance and neat construction of the closure of the container in its treatment in filling, folding and closing machines. The partial pre-folding of the closure defining components, as stated above, results in the final closing of the closure with an irregular disposition of the edges of the fold which not only adversely affects the appearance of the closure, but also impairs the tightness of the closure.

One object of this invention is to overcome the above and other objectionable features existing in the art.

Another object of the invention is to pre-form or precrease a gable or roof-like closure means for a container by temporarily deforming the zone of the container having the closure defining means in such a manner that the edges of the means constituting the gables, during folding move toward each other and thereafter clear each other laterally so that the gables lie substantially in a common plane at the termination of the pre-folding operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for pre-folding or pre-creasing a gable or roof-like closure means for a container including a forming mandrel means adapted to be inserted within the body of the formed container, with cross-section of the mandrel means in the area of the closure defining means constituting a parallelogram whereby the mandrel means deforms temporarily the cross-section of the closure defining means to correspond to that of the mandrel means thereby displacing the apices of the gables laterally respecting each other so that when folding tools are manipulated to fold the gables inwardly, the gables lie substantially in a common plane determined by the top or upper face of the forming mandrel means, at the termination of the prefolding operation.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a prefolding apparatus of the type set forth which includes few essential working parts, which is positive and eflicient in operation, and which can be readily and inexpensively manufactured.

With these and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel steps and features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be later described in detail, and particularly recited in the annexed claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the reference characters thereon which form a part of this application in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic front view of a machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine during one phase of the pre-folding operation.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine at the termination of the pre-folding operation.

Figs. 4 and 4a are perspective and plan views, respectively, of a container closure prior to pre-folding.

Figs. 5 and 5a are perspective and plan views, respectively, following the inserting of the forming mandrel means.

Figs. 6 and 6a are perspective and plan views, respectively, during one phase of the pre-folding operation, and,

Figs. 7 and 7a are perspective and plan views of the final phase of the pre-folding operation.

Referring to the drawings, a forming mandrel is denoted 1, a mounting means for the mandrel 2,. folding tools 3, cam means 4 for actuating the tools and a container 5.

The container 5 is made of paper, cardboard or other suitable materials, and the closure defining zone of the container is indicated as 6. The zone 6 includes wall forming panels 7, 8, 9 and 10, and panels 9 and 10 are scored to facilitate inward folding during the formation of the closure. More particularly, the score lines for each of panels 9, 10 include a short radial score 11 extending inwardly from the center of the panel diverging scores 12, 13 and transverse score 14, and such score lines define gable section 15.

Each folding tool 3 includes a tri-angular blade 16 carried by a shaft 17 journalled for rotation in a frame component 18 of the apparatus. A lever 19 secured to the free end of the shaft supports a roller 20 adapted to ride along the edge of cam means (not shown) operative to rotate the lever and hence the blades 16 inwardly, thereby folding the panels 9 and 10 inwardly.

As previously pointed out, the mandrel 1 in the zone or area of the closure defining means is of a cross-section constituting a parallelgram, as shown at 21, so that such zone or area of the container 5 is temporarily deformed to correspond to the configuration of such area or zone of the mandrel 1, thereby enabling the edges, together with the apices of the panels 9 and 10 to be displaced laterally with respect to each other. This means that when the blades have completed the folding operation (Figure 3) the panels 9 and 10 lie in a common plane determined by the upper face or surface of the mandrel 1.

The sequence of steps is shown in Figures 4 through 7a, respectively. Figures 4 and 4a illustrate the container prior to the insertion of the forming mandrel, whereas in Figure 5, it will be seen that after the mandrel 1 has been inserted into the container 5, the zone of the closure defining means has been temporarily changed to a parallelogram. In Figures 6 and 6a the triangular blades 16 have partially folded inwardly the panels 9 and 10 defining the gable sections 15, and in Figures 7 and 7a there is illustrated the final step of the procedure in which the panels have been folded to their terminal position, with such gable sections being located in a common plane constituted by the upper surface of the mandrel.

It is believed clear from the foregoing description that by virtue of the present invention means have been provided to pre-fold or pre-crease the gable forming components of a container, so that when final folding and sealing of the container is accomplished by means of filling, folding and closing apparatus, the edges of such components will be regularly positioned, and such closure will be tight. The apparatus is relatively simple both as to constructional detail and operation, and the same can be readily incorporated in existing apparatus with a minimum of trouble and expense.

The invention is not to be confined to any strict conformity to showings in the drawings, and changes or modifications may be made therein, so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method for prefolding the closure of a container having gable sections in opposed walls thereof comprising the steps of temporarily deforming the area of the container having such gable sections to displace the edges of said gable sections laterally respecting each other and thereafter folding such gable sections inwardly whereby such sections lie in a common plane.

2. A method as claim d in claim 1, wherein the area of the container having the gable sections is temporarily deformed to the cross-section of a parallelogram.

3. An apparatus for pre-folding a closure of a container having gable sections in opposed walls thereof, comprising a forming mandrel adapted to be inserted into the container, said forming mandrel in the area of said gable sections being of parallelogram cross-section, and folding blade means cooperable with each of said gable sections and movable relative to said forming mandrel to fold said sections inwardly whereby the edge of said gable sections are displaced laterally respecting each other to enable said sections to be positioned in a common plane relative to the mandrel.

No references cited. 

